Butler! UConn! ‘One Shining Moment!’ We’re chatting live!
How my first Final Four ended. Kind of boring. (NCAA photos)
It was 1983 in Albuquerque and I was scared to death. It was my first Big Event — I was working for the Lexington Herald-Leader — and I got to The Pit on Final Four Saturday convinced I was the worst writer in the building if not in history. And then the man sitting next to me on the seventh level of press row said, as a team nicknamed the Bulldogs was about to face N.C. State in the first semi, “Georgia — they’re from the SEC, aren’t they?”
And I thought to myself: “OK, second-worst.”
The Final Four, as you might know, is my favorite thing to cover, but not being there – I haven’t been to one since Memphis blew the title in San Antonio in 2008 — doesn’t bother me as much as I’d have thought. I’ve done 20 of them. If I never do another, that’s enough for anyone. And my first few pretty much spoiled me.
1983: The Jim Valvano/Lorenzo Charles/Phil Slamma Jamma title game, preceded by the only slightly less great Houston-Louisville dunkathon semifinal.
1985: Villanova makes 78.6 percent of its shots in the final — and wins by two. It’s my belief that Villanova’s performance was the greatest in championship game history; it’s also my belief that Georgetown’s was the second best.
1986: Louisville trails the whole game but runs down Duke at the end. Pervis Ellison of Savannah is the MVP.
1987: Derrick Coleman misses a free throw; Keith Smart hits a jumper from the left wing; Indiana wins.
The total margin of victory in the first four NCAA championship games I witnessed firsthand was nine points. (Louisville blew out Duke by three in ‘86.) I saw some great ones after that — North Carolina-Michigan in 1993; Arkansas-Duke in 1994, Arizona-Kentucky in 1997; Kentucky-Utah in 1998; UConn-Duke in 1999; Syracuse-Kansas in 2003; North Carolina-Illinois in 2005; the aforementioned Kansas-Memphis in 2008 — but my first four Final Fours remain my favorites. Because I was younger and less jaded.
About tonight’s title tilt: I like both teams. A lot of writers who cover him on a daily basis don’t care for Jim Calhoun, but I’ve always admired his program. (I admire it a bit less after it got caught cheating, but I’m not quite as judgmental as in my youth.) And Butler …
Admit it. When Gordon Hayward’s halfcourt banker kicked away last year, you thought, “That’s as close as that program will ever come to a national title.” Lo and behold, Butler is back. And I kind of think it’ll win tonight. Which means it won’t. So there.
And with that, I’ll open the figurative floor for questions, comments and predictions as to what scripted utterance Jim Nantz will uncork if the underdog should prevail. Surely “The Butler did it!” is too obvious. My nomination:
“One Butler wins the Grammy, and now another Butler is national champ!”
See, Win Butler is the main mover in Arcade Fire, which won Album of the Year for “The Suburbs.” Too obscure? Probably. How about this?
“Frankly, UConn, this Butler doesn’t give a darn!”
Rhett Butler. “Gone With The Wind.” Ask your mom. It’s her favorite movie. (I know it’s my mom’s favorite.)
OK, enough. Join me as we await the newest from the Nantzman. As we choke up in spite of ourselves over “One Shining Moment.” As yet another champion is crowned. I might not be the best at this live-chat thing, but at least I know Georgia’s conference affiliation.
By Mark Bradley
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213 comments Add your comment
Brandon from Warner Robins
April 4th, 2011
8:58 pm
I would have loved to see a Duke Butler rematch.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
8:59 pm
I would have, too, Brandon. But we can’t always get what we want, as Rhett Butler once said. (Or maybe that was Mick Jagger.)
Brandon from Warner Robins
April 4th, 2011
9:03 pm
I think Butler wins it. By 8.
Desperation on the Ave
April 4th, 2011
9:05 pm
What time does Georgia Tech tip off tonight??
D A DoubleU G
April 4th, 2011
9:06 pm
UGA will be in this game in 2013
juvenal
April 4th, 2011
9:06 pm
rats!close again!agree with Cowherd, gotta wurk in the am, boycotting like i do the series, will watch(in person) when GT is in…….
juvenal
April 4th, 2011
9:07 pm
D A-luv u man, but that is so (typically) delusional…..
Deb
April 4th, 2011
9:09 pm
Butler by 3…. Make all of Indiana proud of you amazing young men!!!!
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:09 pm
Speaking of the Stones: CBS just played a slice of “Gimme Shelter,” from the LP “Let It Bleed,” which also yielded “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.”
Brandon from Warner Robins
April 4th, 2011
9:09 pm
Mark,
which one liner does Jim Nantz use? “_______ is the top dogs!” or “Houston we have a champion!”
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:10 pm
And we’ve got the severe storm warnings. Wouldn’t be spring without them.
BobDawg
April 4th, 2011
9:11 pm
Taping it so I can watch it when there is no “commotion”….. Gotta luv family but this is HUGE!!!! Sorry, Larry Munson….
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:11 pm
“No Dogs in this fight!”
juvenal
April 4th, 2011
9:11 pm
Mark-all Rhett said wuz, didn’t gve a……..also on greatest hits….
BobDawg
April 4th, 2011
9:12 pm
Mark, does the Butler coach end up at IU in 3 years???
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:12 pm
Perhaps sooner, BobDawg.
Brandon from Warner Robins
April 4th, 2011
9:12 pm
im just waiting for a Kemba Walker Texas Ranger heading into a time out….
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:13 pm
Calhoun says “quite frankly” all the time.
BobDawg
April 4th, 2011
9:13 pm
Nice, Brandon!!!!
Brandon from Warner Robins
April 4th, 2011
9:14 pm
Mark,
If Calhoun and company win tonight, does he step aside?
BobDawg
April 4th, 2011
9:14 pm
Does Calhoun leave after this game and leave the program to the NCAA wardens???
NRBQ
April 4th, 2011
9:14 pm
Mark,
Who’s coming to Augusta? You, Jeff, or just Hummer (bummer)?
Brandon from Warner Robins
April 4th, 2011
9:16 pm
20 years ago Duke upset UNLV in the Final Four, i think another upset happens tonight.
Mel
April 4th, 2011
9:18 pm
I’m a Duke fan, but I will be rooting for Butler tonight! They deserve it.
Brandon from Warner Robins
April 4th, 2011
9:21 pm
whens the tournament coming back to atlanta?
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:21 pm
I’ll be in Augusta for Rounds 1 and 2. It’s a tradition unlike any other, I’ve heard.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:22 pm
Final Four’s here in two years. Regional’s here next year.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:23 pm
New Castle, Ind.: Home of Kent Benson and Steve Alford, to name two NCAA champs.
Brandon from Warner Robins
April 4th, 2011
9:24 pm
Is Alford still coaching at New Mexico?
Will
April 4th, 2011
9:25 pm
Matt Howard will dominate Uconn’s front line they have not seen a team that plays this good of defense!!
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:25 pm
Yes he is, Brandon.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:26 pm
Doug Shows of Rome, Ga., is reffing the game.
Not my favorite ref, I should note.
BYRDDAWG
April 4th, 2011
9:27 pm
GO DAWGS!!!!
Brandon from Warner Robins
April 4th, 2011
9:29 pm
Steve Kerr has been an excellent addition to the CBS broadcast.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:30 pm
Jim Nantz is hyperventilating, it sounds.
Brandon from Warner Robins
April 4th, 2011
9:31 pm
I got a hardy chuckle at that one Mark.
so what do you make of the Calipari back to the NBA “rumor”?
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:32 pm
Fairly impressive block by Andrew Smith. And now we stop for 2 1/2 minutes for CBS to sell products.
Trevinb
April 4th, 2011
9:32 pm
Great sports week! I will look for you in Augusta on Friday. First pimento cheese sandwich is on me.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:32 pm
Let’s let Calipari win an NCAA title first. Doesn’t have one yet. Might get one next year.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:33 pm
I’ll have to settle for pimento cheese on Friday. It’s Lent. I’m Catholic.
D A DoubleU G
April 4th, 2011
9:33 pm
the 3-pointer has ruined basketball.
And I am only 23, not your grandfather talking about how Kareem dazzled with his sky-hook in the paint.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:34 pm
The 3-pointer has changed the game, not always for the good.
Brandon from Warner Robins
April 4th, 2011
9:37 pm
seems like Butler’s settling for the 3. never a good thing.
D A DoubleU G
April 4th, 2011
9:38 pm
In 2013, will the Georgia dome follow the trend of putting the in the center like the recent football stadiums to host the Final Four? Or are we going to do the ridiculous side court we have done for every other basketball event in the dome?
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:38 pm
Don’t believe UConn can win without Kemba scoring.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:39 pm
Pretty sure it can’t, truth be told.
Trevinb
April 4th, 2011
9:39 pm
Is lack of offense good defense or nervousness? I hope things settle down.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:40 pm
I think it’s both, Trevinb.
D A DoubleU G
April 4th, 2011
9:40 pm
Butler looking like Duke in style.
How many 3’s have they put up so far? 10? 12?
Will
April 4th, 2011
9:40 pm
The old phantom foul on Walker yeah right.
D A DoubleU G
April 4th, 2011
9:41 pm
will the court be in the center of the Ga Dome in 2013?
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:42 pm
It’ll be where it was in 2007 and 2002. Not our first Final Four, you know.
Off-center, in other words.
Brandon from Warner Robins
April 4th, 2011
9:42 pm
what seed was Georgetown when they were upset by Villanova back in the day?
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:42 pm
Georgetown was the No. 1 team in the country in 1985.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:43 pm
And the defending champ.
Brandon from Warner Robins
April 4th, 2011
9:46 pm
Big East and Horizon league teams representing, but it feels like im watching Big Ten basketball.
Brad Stevens
April 4th, 2011
9:46 pm
Hey guys-if I am heading to Bloomington, IN soon to get the Hoosiers back to the Final Four there in the ATL soon, then that court better be at the center of the Dome…it’s now an NCAA requirement, fellas-and I would know…:)
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:48 pm
Doug Shows calls that foul on the floor.
Kemba Walker
April 4th, 2011
9:49 pm
My boys love to reach over the back to get all our loose balls and rebounds…hope the refs keep on letting us get away with it!
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:50 pm
Pretty awful game, I must report.
Fuzzybee
April 4th, 2011
9:50 pm
ugly!
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:52 pm
Two fouls on Lamb.
Bourret
April 4th, 2011
9:53 pm
Nantz when UCONN wins: “And this time the Butler didn’t do it.” I think it’s time for them to start with the negative references at the end instead of coming up with something about the winning team. Or, if you want to go with a negative reference on the winning team when they win a close game: “These cons just escaped!”
Fuzzybee
April 4th, 2011
9:53 pm
that’s big
Brandon from Warner Robins
April 4th, 2011
9:53 pm
Ray Allen and Gordon Heyward are not walking through that door….
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:55 pm
Pretty amazing. Butler leads.
Pack fan
April 4th, 2011
9:55 pm
Clark Kellog has the be the worst announcer in the word next to Katie Courric.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:56 pm
I saw Clark Kellogg play in high school. One of the best prep players ever. Injuries wrecked his career.
C. Stigall
April 4th, 2011
9:57 pm
I got your ugly…raining down threes from New Castle, IN is a tradition every bit as strong and deep and accurate and successful as cheating in Football in the SEC…
Fuzzybee
April 4th, 2011
9:58 pm
good one stigall
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
9:58 pm
New Castle, Ind., has a high school gym that seats 9.500.
reliant
April 4th, 2011
9:59 pm
UCONN is getting the calls (or the non-calls as they case may be)
Fuzzybee
April 4th, 2011
10:00 pm
It’s hard to believe these two teams are in the final game
Brandon from Warner Robins
April 4th, 2011
10:00 pm
UCONN has yet to take advantage of the size differential.
Trevinb
April 4th, 2011
10:01 pm
Butler needs start controlling perimeter on both ends of court.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:01 pm
UConn is getting bounces. I will say that.
gasser
April 4th, 2011
10:03 pm
as far as the Nantz comment at the end, anything is going to be better than Musberger’s “this is for all the tostitos” comment at the end of the nat championship game. what a shill! (in the words of Al Muskewitz)
Brandon from Warner Robins
April 4th, 2011
10:03 pm
this has to be one of the worst title games in some time…
Fuzzybee
April 4th, 2011
10:03 pm
Enter your comments here
Trevinb
April 4th, 2011
10:03 pm
SEC cheating? Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to diss UCONN and their cheating?
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:04 pm
Commercials I’ve come to hate: The State Farm ads, the Alec Baldwin spots, pretty much all of them.
gasser
April 4th, 2011
10:04 pm
btw, anyone know what network the masters is on?
Brandon from Warner Robins
April 4th, 2011
10:05 pm
I’ve got Tiger and Phil in the final group on Sunday. one of them wins another green jacket.
vick's only atl fan
April 4th, 2011
10:06 pm
this is playing like a game in puerto rico on november between two mid-majors
C. Stigall
April 4th, 2011
10:07 pm
I tailor my comments and break out my analogies depending on where the particular newspaper blog is located…we’ll take care of UConn’s cheating program and these refs letting UConn run roughshod before the game is over, you’ll see…:)
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:09 pm
Hard to believe this is for the title.
Shelvin Mack
April 4th, 2011
10:10 pm
In your face…
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:10 pm
It’s 22-19. At halftime. Butler has made one two-pointer, I believe.
Trevinb
April 4th, 2011
10:12 pm
Understatement of the year by Butler coach “may not be pretty “
Brandon from Warner Robins
April 4th, 2011
10:12 pm
the most entertaining part of this game may be Charles Barkley’s halftime analysis.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:12 pm
And now for the halftime show: Arcade Fire!
baller
April 4th, 2011
10:13 pm
Nantz at the end: “Indiana has a new sheriff in town! Move over Notre Dame, Indiana and Purdue. Buter is the definitely the best school in Indiana, at least for basketball.”
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:13 pm
I was not incorrect. Butler has made one 2-pointer. And leads the game.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:14 pm
Nantz: “Hoosier Daddy!”
Gary Cole
April 4th, 2011
10:14 pm
Hey Bradley, got those figures for me yet (1st half shooting stats)?
north high school fancy
April 4th, 2011
10:14 pm
I read your stuff every day and you’re usually right, Mark.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:15 pm
Shelvin Mack went to Bryan Station High.
Another Bryan Station Defender — that’s the nickname — had 41 points in a championship tilt. Jack Givens.
Trevinb
April 4th, 2011
10:15 pm
First time I heard Arcade Fire was during Grammies. Greatest band I had never heard of.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:16 pm
First-half shooting stats. UConn bad, Butler worse.
Fuzzybee
April 4th, 2011
10:17 pm
does anyone else wonder what has happened to college basketball …… I mean really this is the best we’ve got?
north high school fancy
April 4th, 2011
10:17 pm
there hasn’t been a decent song recorded since around 1988. who’s with me on that?
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:17 pm
UConn 9 for 31.
Butler 6 for 22.
defacto
April 4th, 2011
10:17 pm
I think I read that the court will be in the center in 2013 and there will be a chance to set a new attendance record. Trial run next year during the regional
John Wooden
April 4th, 2011
10:18 pm
So, who’s gonna get more loose in the 2nd half, Kemba Walker or Shelvin Mack? Otherwise, this game is going to set organized basketball back about 100 years…
bulldogs
April 4th, 2011
10:19 pm
as far as the halftime commentary, quantity does not equal quality. There’s five there and there could def be some addition by subtraction. just get rid of everyone except sir charles.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:19 pm
The halftime score of a 2000 semifinal: Michigan State 19, Wisconsin 17.
Trevinb
April 4th, 2011
10:20 pm
I think we have a theme for the 2011 title game. “And you thought women’s basketball was bad”
Brandon from Warner Robins
April 4th, 2011
10:20 pm
thats Big Ten Basketball, happens all the time.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:20 pm
UConn has one assist
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:21 pm
Who wins the Naismith?
I say Tebow.
charlie the tuna
April 4th, 2011
10:21 pm
kenny smith is clueless and doesn’t look like he belongs there. he is trying to understand what charles barkley is saying, but he can’t because he doesn’t understand basketball.
Brandon from Warner Robins
April 4th, 2011
10:22 pm
Jimmer?
charlie the tuna
April 4th, 2011
10:22 pm
Alec Baldwin for the Naismith
Georgia Dome
April 4th, 2011
10:23 pm
That’s right, we are gonna kick Reliant’s @#@#…actually, everyone, our cavernous roofs are causing this ugly basketball…hoops was not meant to be played in football domes…not like we care, we so excited…packing in 76,000…$$$$$$$$$$$$…
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:24 pm
Oh yeah. Definitely Jimmer.
MightyQuinn
April 4th, 2011
10:24 pm
Listening to game on Sirius on I5 in Oregon. If Huskies win, the line should be, Butler just felt The Wrath of CONN.
Smarty Pants
April 4th, 2011
10:24 pm
I think it’s a great game. I’m loving every shot, even if 75 per cent are errant. I sort of pull for the underdogs. Both teams earned the right to be in the championship game, unlike college football.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:25 pm
Who’s doing radio, Quinn? Bill Raftery and Kevin Harlan?
Cam Newton
April 4th, 2011
10:25 pm
I WILL be winning the Naismith…I could outscore both these teams all by myself…I am blessed!
Fuzzybee
April 4th, 2011
10:26 pm
Yes you are Cam….
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:26 pm
I’ve heard Cam Newton is almost as good a basketball player as he is at that other game.
Fuzzybee
April 4th, 2011
10:27 pm
Football pays more (at Auburn).
Brandon from Warner Robins
April 4th, 2011
10:27 pm
hard watching my Blue Devils get embarrassed by Derick Williams and Arizona.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:27 pm
Last time a team from Indiana won it, a guy (Alford) hit a a three before the half.
Next-to-last time a team from that state won it, a guy (Randy Wittman) hit a go-ahead jumper at the half.
Fuzzybee
April 4th, 2011
10:28 pm
Now that’s some trivia!
Glenn Burns
April 4th, 2011
10:29 pm
Hey everyone, come on over to Storm Team 2 coverage on WSB…it is much more exciting than this rugby-style basketball…gee, we’ve even got a new Doppler Radar that is much more accurate than the shooters for either one of these two hapless teams…and besides, I’m way more glib than Nantz…
Brandon from Warner Robins
April 4th, 2011
10:29 pm
I think that happened before I was born….
Worm
April 4th, 2011
10:29 pm
Mark, Just curious-Shows isn’t bad but he has a huge ego..Hasn’t blown the whistle much in the first half, but I happen to know him..What’s the beef?
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:30 pm
I think Shows calls games with a smirk on his face. But that’s just me.
Worm
April 4th, 2011
10:31 pm
I can see fhil Ford in the four corners or Whack Hyder playing kentucky 8-7.
Directions
April 4th, 2011
10:31 pm
Yes, Cam Newton was a pretty good basketball player at Westlake High. Team reached finals, but he had already left for Florida in January.
Speaking of Westlake High. Alumni A.J. Moye was on the last Indiana team to reach the Final Four.
Trevinb
April 4th, 2011
10:31 pm
Mark, were you at the 1946 game? Just heard this is lowest score since that game.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:32 pm
My daughter just reminded me that the Kentucky-UConn game seemed low-scoring at the half. It was 31 for the Huskies, 21 for the Cats.
Keith Smart
April 4th, 2011
10:32 pm
Hey Bradley, you better not forget who hit the game-winner in 1987…and speaking of trivia, who is the current head coach of the Golden State Warriors…you might be surprised at the answer!
MightyQuinn
April 4th, 2011
10:33 pm
John Thompson doing color, Rafferty doing play by play.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:34 pm
Didn’t cover the 1946 game. But have heard a lot about the 1948 and 1949 final games. Kentucky won both.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:34 pm
Shaka Smart is the Golden State Warriors’ coach, is he not?
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:35 pm
The gall of Stigall!
Brandon from Warner Robins
April 4th, 2011
10:36 pm
how did Lamb get out of Georgia?
MightyQuinn
April 4th, 2011
10:36 pm
How did you do versus your daughter on your brackets this year, Mark?
Charles Barkley
April 4th, 2011
10:37 pm
It’s been a long time since I saw this many goofy-looking white boys in a National Final…see what that one-and-done rule has done to NCAA Basketball!
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:37 pm
Neither of the Bradleys got a single team right.
John Wooden
April 4th, 2011
10:40 pm
Athleticism or refs letting UConn go over the back and hack the entire game?
Fuzzybee
April 4th, 2011
10:41 pm
It doesn’t look like anyone is going to run away and hide tonight.
MightyQuinn
April 4th, 2011
10:42 pm
Yikes! Had you or her ever put up an 0-fer before?
Brandon from Warner Robins
April 4th, 2011
10:42 pm
bout time UCONN got called for a foul. wow. refs really letting them play.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:43 pm
I have. Don’t think she had.
Doug Shows
April 4th, 2011
10:43 pm
The announcers call it length we call it letting UConn get away with whatever they want defensively…
Trevinb
April 4th, 2011
10:43 pm
It’s called being taller and bigger than the other guys. Refs are doing a good job.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:44 pm
I thought Napier fouled Shelvin M. twice on that possession
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:49 pm
Thought Lamb fouled on the steal
Paul Hewitt
April 4th, 2011
10:52 pm
Hey Bradley, leave Shows alone…you know UConn doesn’t cheat…
Mark Fox
April 4th, 2011
10:54 pm
Damon Evans wouldn’t approve the “Dream Team” recruiting strategy for me before he left like he did for Mark Richt in Football…that’s why Jeremy Lamb got away…
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:54 pm
The second two-pointer of the game for BU
John Wooden
April 4th, 2011
10:56 pm
Like I said, basketball is being set back 100 years…never liked that newfangled three-point shot!
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:57 pm
Not sure BU can win
Smarty Pants
April 4th, 2011
10:57 pm
How did Lamb ever get out of Ga.? He fought to succeed.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
10:57 pm
How did Lamb get out of Georgia? Delta.
Trevinb
April 4th, 2011
10:57 pm
I dvr’d Augusta’s Master Plan on PBS. Looks like I may be switching it on sooner than I thought.
Doug Shows
April 4th, 2011
11:01 pm
Three fouls for UConn…see what I mean?
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
11:02 pm
Butler can’t score. Can’t win if you can’t score.
JacketFan
April 4th, 2011
11:02 pm
How do you mss that lay in? Shots just not falling for Butler tonight.
Hayseed Dixie
April 4th, 2011
11:03 pm
Uh oh, UConn is now officially playing basketball- this doesn’t look good for Butler.
And Butler still can’t get a shot to fall.
JacketFan
April 4th, 2011
11:04 pm
Butler can’t buy a basket right now.
Brad Stevens
April 4th, 2011
11:05 pm
I miss Gordon Heyward…
Trevinb
April 4th, 2011
11:06 pm
What are the odds Kellogg knows what “inexplicable” means?
JacketFan
April 4th, 2011
11:06 pm
Now it’s just getting sad.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
11:06 pm
Shooting 15 percent.
Cinderella
April 4th, 2011
11:07 pm
POOF.. aw darn it… my coach is a pumpkin again.. So long Butler.
Mark
April 4th, 2011
11:07 pm
I say if they had the three pointer in 1985 …Georgia Tech and Mark Price would have been NCAA Champs…
Mark Emmert
April 4th, 2011
11:07 pm
This is the new NCAA…all our champions you will see now are cheaters…
Brad Stevens
April 4th, 2011
11:09 pm
Yeah-if Butler would let me cheat too in recruiting, I could find some offense and some shooters…
JacketFan
April 4th, 2011
11:10 pm
The beer commercials are more compelling than this game right now.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
11:10 pm
When Vegas beat Duke by 30 in the title game in 1990, it was because Vegas was great. This is just … sad
Hayseed Dixie
April 4th, 2011
11:11 pm
I’m having some horrible, horrible, BJ Elder and Marvin Lewis flashbacks here.
In fact, Butler looks like a team full of BJ Elders.
Golt73
April 4th, 2011
11:15 pm
Anybody else wishing Ohio State and Kansas HADN’T choked?
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
11:15 pm
Sirens going off here in Cobb.
GovClintonTyree, Gator Alum
April 4th, 2011
11:16 pm
This game sucks. How did we lose to these guys?
Trevinb
April 4th, 2011
11:16 pm
Take cover
Fuzzybee
April 4th, 2011
11:16 pm
That’s not good – head for the basement
BYRDDAWG
April 4th, 2011
11:22 pm
This is horrible!
Fuzzybee
April 4th, 2011
11:24 pm
Butler may be the worst shooting team I’ve ever seen (tonight),
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
11:25 pm
Lost power for a bit there. About to wind it up
playmeortrademe
April 4th, 2011
11:25 pm
Can anyone think of a worse championship game in the last 25 years? Uconn-Tech or UNC-Michigan State? this was horrible. Does anyone outside Connecticut even like Uconn?
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
11:26 pm
Just a sad night. Not much to say. UConn wins by 12 over a team that couldn’t make a hoop.
playmeortrademe
April 4th, 2011
11:28 pm
Rooting for Jim Calhoun to win is like rooting for Bill Bilichik. Nobody does it.
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
11:29 pm
TV just went out. And so will I. Thanks for hanging with me, folks. Sorry about the game.
thomp
April 4th, 2011
11:33 pm
The NCAA sucks! Once again another cheater wins!
Najeh Davenpoop
April 4th, 2011
11:34 pm
That game was horrendous. I love it when people say they would rather watch college ball because they “try harder” or “have more heart” or whatever. Yeah, they look like they are trying harder because they are not talented. Give me a break.
GTBob
April 4th, 2011
11:35 pm
Sorry Butler, but Kemba wanted this one too much. Way to take care of business Uconn.
Worm
April 4th, 2011
11:39 pm
Has there ever been two more OUTLAW programs than Awbarn and UCon win national titles in the same year?..Makes me want to PUKE!
Vernon
April 4th, 2011
11:51 pm
Awbarn stinks!!!
msumbd
April 4th, 2011
11:56 pm
Great job CBS with the One Moment Please for the last 8 minutes. I guess I replay One Shining Moment from 2000 BEST YET!!!
playmeortrademe
April 4th, 2011
11:56 pm
One shining moooooment….NCAA must be proud. 2011 tournament is Charles Barkley, Uconn, and the great white hope Butler’s inability buy a bucket even if you gave them the money Jim Calhoun spent on Kemba Walker. Only way the NCAA can top this next year is for Lane Kiffin and Bruce Pearl to win national championships.
carnac the magnificent
April 5th, 2011
12:03 am
i predict butler in a barn burner.
peterh
April 5th, 2011
12:15 am
I’ve thought all along that Butler looked like a high school team but somehow they kept getting it done until tonight. Tonight they were lucky not to lose by 20. They play good defense but on offense their lack of talent and Connecticut’s size left them unable to get a decent look at the basket. There’s a REASON they shot 18%. And what happened to Shelvin Mack? He’s the go to guy, especially when you/re behind, but he seemed to be out of the loop. Good defense or was Shelvin choking?
peterh
April 5th, 2011
12:21 am
Butler finally played like they look – white and slow. They played good defense but on offense their lack of natural ability and Connecticut’s size left them almost unable to get a shot off. And what happened to Shelvin Mack?
Calhoun has 3 rings, suck it haters
April 5th, 2011
12:23 am
LOL @ all the butthurt retards whining about cheating… why don’t you try proving something a little more damning than some text messages/phone calls. You’re probably the same mongoloids that cry about “thuga” when Caleb King rides his scooter up the wrong street.
(P.S. Calhoun has 3 rings… choke on it)
Coach Grohbo
April 5th, 2011
12:45 am
Oh my.
I see more butthurt hypocrite Georgia fans crying about cheating again.
Just be happy another set of sorry Dogs finally shot under your record 27% final four shooting performance.
Coach Grohbo
April 5th, 2011
12:47 am
Mark,
Watching Butler’s shooting tonight must have brought back a few more memories of the 1983 Final Four.
Nathan Allen
April 5th, 2011
6:43 am
Mark…no need to apologize for a game that won me $400.00!
I’m rich biatch!!
Nate
April 5th, 2011
7:53 am
Thak God it’s over.
PMC
April 5th, 2011
8:23 am
Worst final ever.
Like watching paint dry in the second half.
PMC
April 5th, 2011
8:24 am
All the platitudes go to Jim Calhoun… further proving…it really does pay to cheat in college sports.
phil
April 5th, 2011
8:25 am
I wanted Butler to win but that was a poor showing if there ever was one. 18% from the floor? Thought it had to be the worst ever and it was, breaking a 70 year old record for futility. Nothing would fall. It got to the point I was just laughing at them missing gimme after gimme.
Oh well….2 straight trips to the final is incredible enough. Proud of those boys.
As for UCONN, money and corruption buys em another one….only kidding, i hope….great coaching job by Calhoun…clearly one of the alltime best.
phil
April 5th, 2011
8:26 am
pmc – lol!
bucket
April 5th, 2011
10:24 am
I hope the NCAA is proud that they have confirmed cheaters as champs in both of their major sports.
David Granger
April 5th, 2011
12:35 pm
Butler did a good job of making it a sloppy game and keeping the score low, which they had to do in order to have any chance at all. They just didn’t hit the shots they had been hitting all throughout the tourney. I was disappointed, but the better team won.
Buckeye
April 5th, 2011
2:16 pm
I’m still yawning. Was more fun waiting for the storm to come through last night. Too bad to end a great tourney on this stinker.
Dink
April 5th, 2011
3:06 pm
Mark, have you heard anything about former Alabama HC Mark Gottfried being named as the new NC State HC?
DawginLex
April 5th, 2011
3:46 pm
So who hired a better coach?
UT-Martin(really his name not a crack about the other school)
Tech-Gregory
NCSU-Gottfried
NCSU must have decided they are a football school…………
WTGW5150
April 5th, 2011
8:24 pm
I thought the women were playing for the Basketball Championship tonight! MAN I want a basketball game and all I got was a UGA vs UCF football game. BORING BORING BORING.
WTGW5150
April 5th, 2011
10:19 pm
With 15:35 left. The Women’s game is about to have more points than the Men’s Championship game.
At 14.28 left in the 2nd half it is ND 48 v Tx A&M 46 have Tied the Men’s score HAHAHHA. The MEN’s GAME SUCKED.